Table for type-writers.



110. 794,594. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

TABLE FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1904.

' UNITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

GEORGE W. DONNING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY T.AMBROSE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

TABLE FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,594, dated July 11,1905.

Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No. 192,406.

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE W. DONNING, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables for Type-VVriters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a combined supporting-leaf and coverfor attachment particularly to tables or desks upon which are disposedfiat platen book type writing machines and which are formed with alaterallyslidable book rest or carriage. In this class ofwriting-machines the book to be written on is supported on an adjustablecarriage adapted to traverse a path transverse of and beneath the platenor printing-surface in such a manner that the several leaves of a bookmay be turned over and laid upon the platen or printing-surface inposition to be printed upon. To permit the printing to be done on eitherside of the page at will, the book rest or carriage is moved to eitherside of the platen, and heretofore it has been found necessary to utilize for the track or guide rails of the bookcarriage a considerablespace on each side of the platen, so that when the carriage is moved toone side of the machine the space at the opposite side while not beingused for the support of the book rest or carriage is rendered uselessfor any other purpose by reason of the tracks thereon, as well as forthe further necessity of leaving it clear to permit the movement of thebook-carriage for readjustment of the book. It is of course necessary tohave the top of the table above the said book-carriage clear andunobstructed when it is desired to place the book thereon or remove ittherefrom. Therefore in order to employ the space at either side of theplaten for workholders such devices must be supported at such a heightas to clear the loaded book-carriage, and, preferably, such work holdersshould be movable, so as to give ready access to the carriage.

It is the object of this invention to utilize these spaces for paper orcopy holding devices, either one of which will give access to thecarriage as the latter is transferred from one side to the other of theplaten.

A further object is to provide a type-writer table with a platen locatedin the central portion of its top, a traveling book-carriage operativelymounted with reference to the platen and adapted to occupy either of theend portions of the top, and two movable work-holding leaves adapted tolie above such end portions at a suflicient height to clear the book andcarriage.

With these objects in view the invention consists in attaching flatleaves or shelves upon the upper portion of the table or desk andarranging them so that they may be brought into position to form asubstantial top to the table, covering these portions of the tableadjoining the platen on either side. Each leaf is mounted, as by pivotedbearings, so that it may be swung down and be allowed to hang beside thetable, the other leaf meanwhile serving to hold all the paper or copy.When the leaf is closed, it is supported at a distance above thetable-top, so that the loaded carriage beneath will not touch its undersurface.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of myinvention, though others may of course be used.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a booktype-writer table embodying myinvention, the writing mechanism being omitted to avoid confusion. Fig.2 is a view in perspective of one of the hinges of the covering-leafdetached. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification in the manner of attachingthe leaf to the table; and Fig. 4 is a detached view, partly in section,of the form of support or hinge shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A designates atable or support for the writing-machine,preferably supplied with drawers or receptacles a a for supplies, andhaving an open top A a supportingframe A, forming the edges of thistable.

Over the central portion of the open top is supported aflat platen orwriting-surface B, so that a page of a book placed thereon may be turnedover on the writing-surface from either side thereof. Slidably disposedbeneath the platen is the book rest or carriage D, upon which the bookis placed, and moves to position it to one or the other side of theplaten according to which side is to be written upon. It will be readilyunderstood that during the operation of placing the book upon thiscarriage or of its removal therefrom provision for access thereto mustbe made. When, however, the book has been placed in position and whilethe printing is being done no such access is necessary, and thereforethe space at either side of the platen may be utilized in any waydesired, and to permit this I provide two fiat leaves E, pivotallyconnected to the table by hinges F, located at opposite sides of theleaves.

When theleaves occupy the closed position shown in Fig. 1, they formcovers for the portions of the top at opposite sides of the platen; butwhen access to one end of the top is necessary, as for placing orremoving the book or inspecting a written page, the leaf over thisportion by means of its pivotal connection is swung to occupy theposition indi cated by dotted lines. It will be seen. therefore. thatsince only one end portion of the table-top is occupied at one time bythe carriage there may always be one closed leaf to serve as apaper-holder. Leaves E are supported in a plane above that of theplaten, so that in shifting the carriage and book from side to side ofthe table, the book pages, particularly the free ends thereof, will notcontact with the leaves.

The hinge F is preferably made as shown in Fig. 2 and comprises anupwardly-inclined projecting supporting-arm having aninwardly-projecting pin or pintlef, the leaf being provided with anopening, (not shown,) and the pintle f formsa trunnion upon which theleaf E may turn. Upon the inner face of the arm f, below and in front oftrunnion-pin f and adapted to engage with the under surface of the leafwhen closed, may be disposed a supporting block, boss, or bracket f toassist the pin to support the weight which may be placed upon it. Thishinge-arm f is preferably made to extend first upward from the edge ofthe table A to raise the hinge-point somewhat above the table-top, andthis permits the leaf to swing free of the top, and, secondly, outwardto throw the hinge-point beyond the edge of the table-top to permit theleaf to be turned and dropped alongside of the end of the table.

In Fig. 1 the leaf is shown as hinged at a fixed point and is turned onits trunnion-pins, as indicated by dotted lines; but in certaininstances in lieu of this construction it may be desirable to providethe edge of the leaves E with a groove or slot 6 wherein the trunnionpinf will enter, so that the leaf may be raised to a vertical position andthen slid down on the trunnion-pinsf, as shown in Fig. 3. The leaves Emay be hinged or mounted to be turned or moved down at the rear of thetable as well as at the ends, or they may be arranged to be droppedinside of the walls of the table without departing from my invention.

The leaf E may carry a standard G at its free end to rest upon the frameA and serve to support the same above the surface of said frame and inthe same horizontal plane as the hinge member F supports the hinge endof said leaf, or this standard may be disposed on the frame and the leafrest upon it. This standard, in connection with the upwardlyprojectingarm of the hinge member, supports the leaf when closed clear of thecarriage and permits both leaves to be lowered during the process ofwriting without interfering with the operative position of the carriage.By the expression supporting the leaf clear of the carriage I wish to beunderstood, of-

course, as meaning that the leaf is at a sufficient distance above thecarriage as not to interfere with a book placed thereon.

What I claim is- 1. In a type-writer table, the combination with the topthereof, a platen occupying the central portion of the top, and amovable bookcarriage adapted to be positioned in the portions thereof ateither side of the platen; of leaves movably mounted on the table forcovering the portions of the top at opposite sides of the platen whileleaving the platen exposed, each leaf being adapted to permit access tothe carriage.

2. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying the central portion of the top, and a movablebookcarriage adapted to be positioned in the portions of the top ateither side of the platen; of leaves hinged to the table for coveringthe portions of the top at opposite sides of the platen while leavingthe platen exposed, each leaf being adapted to permit access to thecarriage.

3. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying the central portion of the top, anda movablebookcarriage adapted to be positioned in the .portions thereof atopposite sides of the platen; of hinge members having arms extendingoutwardly over the edges of the top, and leaves pivoted to the arms andcovering the portions of the top at opposite sides of the platen whileleaving the platen exposed, each leaf being adapted to permit access tothe carriage.

4:. In a table the combinationwith the'top thereof, of a leaf coveringthe top when the former is closed, an upwardly-projecting arm havingpivotal connection with the leaf, and a supporting-boss on the armadapted to engage with the under surface of the leaf when closed.

5. In a table, the combination with the top thereof of a leaf coveringthe top when the former is closed, an upwardly-projecting arm havingpivotal connection with the leaf, and

a supporting-boss on the arm located below and in front of said pivotalconnection and adapted to engage with the under surface of the leaf whenclosed.

6. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, andabook-support operativelydisposed with reference to the platen; of a hinge member having an armprojecting above the table-top, a leaf pivoted to said arm, and meansfor holding the remainder of the leaf above the top, all being arrangedso that the leaf clears the support and leaves the platen exposed.

7. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten mounted in the top, and a book-carriage movably mounted in thetopbeneath the platen; of a leaf covering a portion of the top whileleaving the platen exposed, the leaf being movably mounted on the tableto give access to the carriage and supported at such a distance abovethe carriage as to clear the same.

8. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a book-support beneath theplaten; of work-holding leaves distinct from the platen mounted on thetable at opposite sides of the platen and leaving the latter exposed,each leaf being movable to give access to the support and supported atsuch distance thereabove as to clear the same.

9. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying the central portion of the top, and abook-carriageoperatively disposed with reference to the platen and adapted to occupyeither of the end portions of the top; of leaves supported at suchdistance above the carriage as to clear the same, while leaving theplaten exposed each leaf being adapted to give access to the carriage.

10. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, andtwo work-holding leaves covering remote portions of the top and leavingan exposed central region for the reception of the impression-surfaceand writing mechanism; of a book-support located at such distance belowthe leaves as to clear the same, the leaves being movable to give accessto the support.

11. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a book-support mounted in thetable beneath the platen and constructed to permit the lateral shiftingof a book to occupy the portions of the top at opposite sides same.

12. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a transversely-movablebook-carriage mounted in the table beneath the platen and adapted tooccupy the portion of the top at one side of the platen; of a leafsupported on the table covering such portion of the top in a plane abovethat of the platen and leaving the latter exposed.

13. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a transversely-movablebook-carriage mounted in the table beneath the platen and adapted tooccupy the portion of the top at one side of the platen; of a leafsupported on the table covering such portion of the top in a plane-abovethat of the platen and leaving the latter exposed, said leaf beingmovable to give access to the carriage.

14; In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a transversely-movablebook-carriage mounted in the table beneath the platen and adapted tooccupy the portions of the top at opposite sides of the platen; ofleaves supported on the table covering such portions of the top in aplane above that of the platen and leaving the latter exposed, saidleaves being movable to give access to the carriage.

15. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a transversely-movablebook-carriage mounted in the table beneath the platen and adapted tooccupy the portion of the top at one side of the platen; of a leafsupported on the table covering such portion of the top While leavingthe platen exposed, said leaf being supported at such distance above thecarriage as to clear the same.

16. In a type-writer table, the combination with the top thereof, aplaten occupying a portion of the top, and a transversely-movablebook-carriage mounted in the table beneath the platen and adapted tooccupy the portions 0f the top at opposite sides of the platen; ofleaves supported on the table covering such portions of the top whileleaving the platen exposed, said leaves being supported at such distanceabove the carriage as to clear the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. DONNING.

Witnesses:

ANDREW W. STEIG-ER, JOHN R. WILTsIE,

IIC

